Former Deputy Sheriff Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

Sentence and Conviction

On Tuesday, U.S. Senior District Judge sentenced Alexandra Acosta, a 38-year-old Broward deputy sheriff and SWAT team member from Tamarac, Florida, to four months in prison following her conviction on charges related to COVID-19 relief fraud.

Acosta was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA), two counts of making false statements to the SBA, and one count of wire fraud.

The Scheme

In 2021, Acosta conspired with her tax preparer, Vilsaint St. Louis, to fraudulently obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Acosta, who falsely claimed to be a sole proprietor working as a realtor, submitted falsified information about her 2019 income, including two fabricated IRS tax forms. This deception led to her receiving and later seeking forgiveness for a PPP loan that exceeded $20,000 in principal and interest.

At the time of the scheme, Acosta was employed as a deputy sheriff with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Law Enforcement and was notable for being the first and only female SWAT team member in the department. St. Louis, Acosta’s coconspirator, had previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on May 14 to one year of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service.

In addition to her prison sentence, Acosta has been fined $4,000. She has already repaid the fraudulently obtained loan funds.

The investigation into the case was conducted by the FRB-OIG, BSO, and the FBI Miami Field Office, with the prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Jones and Adam Love, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove overseeing asset forfeiture.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker of the Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG); Sheriff Gregory Tony of BSO; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in preventing and prosecuting COVID-19 relief fraud. It is crucial that individuals and businesses remain truthful and transparent in their financial dealings, as any attempts to deceive or manipulate the system will be detected and prosecuted.

Q: What was the nature of the scheme?
A: Alexandra Acosta and her coconspirator, Vilsaint St. Louis, conspired to fraudulently obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

Q: What were the charges brought against Acosta?
A: Acosta was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration (SBA), two counts of making false statements to the SBA, and one count of wire fraud.

Q: What was the outcome of the case?
A: Acosta was sentenced to four months in prison and fined $4,000. She has already repaid the fraudulently obtained loan funds.